Phonograph needle



Nov. 13, 1934. w D. WENGER 1,980,511

' PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE- Filed June 12, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fag. 1.

mil/4! w. D. WENGER 1,980,511

I FHONOGRAPH NEEDLE Filed June 12, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3.

' Bu .D.Wenger G attorney ?aient ed Nov 13,1934

P ATENT oFFicE UNITED STATES This invention relates to the phonographic.art and more particularly to a method and means for recording humanspeech and other sounds p upon a record having particularcharacteristics 9 adapted to be used in conjunction with a novelreproducing means. An object of this invention is .to provide a improvedconstruction of needle for use in connection with a coiled record stripfor both mak- 19 ing a record upon the edge of the strip and forreproduction of sound from-the recording, and

also to hold and guide the needle in contact and register with the edgeof the strip during the travel of the coiled record strip beneath theneedle, the invention taking advantage of the spiral space or channelbetween the convolutions of the strip for the reception of a projectionor arm disposed at one side of the needle to hold the latter in trueregister with the edge of the 29 strip.

A further object is to provide a needle having the above characteristicsand which servesas a heat transfer medium to heat a strip and soften itsufliciently to receive a record impression from the needle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for recordingsounds upon the comparatively narrow surface or edge of a tape stripsuch as an audible moving picture film whereby the space on the filmheretofore usedfor recording sounds -by means of lights and shadows isconserved for providing larger pictures adapted to show minute detailswhen projected on to a screen- Another object of the invention is toprovide means for recording feeble sound vibrations directly upon asubstantially indurate durable record adapted for immediate use inreproducing the original sounds.

Other and further objects and advantages of the'invention will beunderstood from the following detailed description reference being hadto the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, and showing a preferredembodiment of the recording means of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail on an enlarged scale of certain of the parts shownin Figure l'as applied to the tape strip record of this invention forreproducing the sounds indented on the tape.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 and show in a modification ofthepreierred means employed. 1

55 Flame 4 is an enlarged detail showing certain portions of themechanism of Figure 3 as applied to a flat disc for recording soundsthereon.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description andfirst to Figure 1, the preferred means employed includes a frame 10which 69 may be formed annular in plan and to which is secured a housing11 by means of screw threads 12 or the like. The frame and adjunct partsare adapted to have vertically reciprocating motions or vibrations andis prevented from horizontal movements by any suitable means such as thestandards 13 extending through suitable apertures formed in thecollar'of the frame 10 and carried by a platform 14 or the like, theweight of the housing and frame together with a later describedmechanism resting upon a movable tape strip used in conjunction with thepresent invention. i

The mechanism further includes a tape strip guide 15 provided with apair of upstanding ears 16. spaced apart a sufiicient distance for thetape 17 to slide freely between the ears. Between the frame 10 and thelower edge of the housing 11 a diaphragm-disc 18 is positioned andadapted to I have vibratory movements forpurposes later described.

A hollow collar 19 is centrally attached to the bottom of the disc 18 asshown in Figure 1 and is provided with a sleeve 20, the exposedperimeter of the latter being turned slightly inwardly as at 21 for-gripping a removable needle 22.

A' coil 23 is positioned about the sleeve or in contact therewith and isadapted to heat it, whereby the heat is transferredto the needle andtape strip 17, the coil 23 being in electrical communication with asource of electrical energy such as the battery 24 through circuit wires25, the circuit including a fuse 26 and a rheostat 27 for selectivelyvarying or regulating the temperature applied to the work. i

Within the housing 11 an electromagnet 28 is supported by any suitablemeans such as the stud bolt 29 and is in electrical communication with amicrophone 30 through circuit wires 31 and asource of electrical energysuch as the battery 32.

It will be understood that the needle 22, shown in Figure 1, may be ofany desired configuration for recording purposes and that the tape strip1 17 may be passed under the needle and in contact with it by anysuitable means such as manually or by means of a'reeling device, notshown; further, that the microphone 30 is provided with a conventionalcarbon button and diaphragm.

In operation sounds generated adjacent the receivlng horn 33 of themicrophone 30 creates'air sounds is intended or inscribed upon the tapestrip 17 as the latter is moved.

As the tape starts to describe a recording movement the heat is appliedto it for temporarily altering its substantially indurate character andrecording the sound impulses thereon while the tape is in a softenedcondition or the like; whereupon'the tape is permitted to r' gain itsnormal character as it moves away fro the needle or inscribing means.

It will be understood that certain chemicals may be employed forsoftening the tape in lieu of heat being applied as above described;said chemicals preferably being susceptible of evaporation subsequent touse.

The above specifically described arrangement of parts is adapted to makedirect verticaLcuts or indentations upon the strip 1'7 and the means ofthis invention is also adapted to make lateral recording cuts upon discrecords or tape strips as now to be described.

Referring to Figure 3, the needle 22'is removably carried in a shaft 40by means of a set screw 41 and provided with'a heating coil 23', circuitwires 25', a battery 24', rheostat 27 and fuse 26'.

The shaft is removably attached to the armature 42 of an electro-magnetby means of a collar and set screw 43, the armature being provided witha coil 44 in electrical communication with a microphone 30' throughcircuit wires 31' and a battery 32'.

The coil 44 and armature is carried by a sleeve 45 pivotally positionedbetween the poles of a magnetized member 46, said =pivot not beingshown, whereby the point of the needle is adapted to vibrate laterallyin alignmentwith and, between the poles of the member 28'correspondingly with sound impulses imparted to the microphone 30 forrecording from the latter.

It will be understood that the arrangement of parts shown in Figure 3 isadapted to record upon the edge of the tape strip shown in Figure 1 andwhen so used the tape strip guide 15 is employed. It will also be.understood that the needle 22' will record sounds upon the flat discrecord 46 shown in Figure 4 while the disc is rotated upon a turn-table47 carried by a driven axle 48.

As best shown in Figure 2 the needle 22 may be provided with anelongated guidearm 50 particularly useful in transcribing coiled striprecords for holding the point of the needle in operative position withrespect to a record, the latter being attached to a removable hub 51,carried by a driven post or axle 52 of a tm'n-table 58 upon which thecoiled strip 1'! is positioned for transcribing purposes and it will benoted that the coiled strip record shown in Figure 2 may be repeatedlytranscribed by inserting the guide arm 50 at any selected place betweenthe coiled laminations of the record, the latter being so coiled thatthestart of the letter or record is adjacent the removable hub 51 andwhen used for transcribing purposes the needle 22v is sonmunted andcarried that it is adapted to have horizontal swinging movements,similar to the .tone arm of a conventional-phonograph, and in alignmentwith the turn-table for traveling outwardly away from the hub towardsthe end of the last outward turn of the coiled strip, the

'nism may include, if desired, electrical means as of thejcoiled recordstrip to guide the needle over turned beneath the needle.

rd or tter. being flexible and permitting the insertion of the,

arm 50 which guides the needle outwardly of the coil at times whenrotary movements are imparted thereto. It will be understood that whenused for transcribing purposes an amplifying horn is applied to andcarriedby the adjunct parts of the diaphragm 18 and needle 22, of Figure2, no heat being applied to the needle during transcription of records.Also the transcription mechais apparent.

By means of the present invention letters and reports can-gbe dictatedand forwarded'with a greater degree of accuracy and economy thanheretofore and inflections of the voice noted whereby the emphasisapplied to words is properly understood and appraised, the mechanismbeing more compact and easier to transport than the heretofore usedcorrespondence dictating machines, typewriters and the like; the instantmeans being of light weight and of few and simple parts, is. readilytransportable by traveling salesman and the like. Where a large amountof letters are to be dictated the mechanism for driving or reeling thetape 1'! may include an electrical motor, or the reeling device may bemanually operated and it will be obvious that the tape 1''! may becaused to travel by manual manip- .ulation solely.

- that my invention is susceptible of some change and modificationwithout departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for thisreason I do not wish it to be understood-as limiting myself to theprecise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown" incarrying out my invention in practice except as claimed.

I claim:--

1. A phonograph needle for coiled record strips, comprising a needlebody having an end portion adapted to engage against the edge of thecoiled record strip to transmit vibrations therefrom, and a guide membercarried by the needle and extending in off-set relation therebeyond forengagement between the convolutions of the coiled record' strip to holdthe end of the needle in register-with the edge of the strip when thecoiled record strip is bodily turned.

2. A phonograph needle for coiled record strips, comprising a needlebody having an end for contact with the edge off the record strip andhaving a laterally off-set .arm extending beyond the needle forengagement between the convolutions the edge of the strip when thelatter is bodily 3. A phonograph needle for coiled record stripssusceptible to softening for.recording when subiected to heat,comprising a heat transmitting needle body having a point 'forcontactwith the edge of a coiled record strip to transmit heat theretoand pressa record groove therein, means for heating the needle body, and aguiding arm carried by the needle projecting at one side beyond thepoint thereof for engagement between the convolutions of the coiledrecord strip to hold the end of the needle in register with the se oithe strip. 7

WILEYD. WENGERL 150

